Learn to build web applications using Node.js and the Express framework.

Become a MEAN Stack Developer

Node.js is a runtime environment that enables JavaScript to run outside the browser. In this module, we'll learn the fundamentals of Node.js to build portable applications. We'll learn about the components of Node.js and make patterns using these. We'll also explore the API to learn how to create modules and write code for unique data files. Moreover, we'll delve into the features and practices of JavaScript and build a REST API using the Express framework from scratch. Moving on, we'll use Passport.js and JSON web tokens to establish authentication tokens. We’ll then create a live trivia game with Socket.IO. By the end of this module, we'll be equipped with extensive knowledge to build rich and comprehensive Node.js applications running on the server with JavaScript.

Learn Node.js from Scratch

## Key takeaways

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned in this chapter:

- We can use the fs module for accessing, manipulating, and interacting with the file system. We can use the process object to access information about the current Node.js process and to interact with it. Both of these are built-in global Node.js modules.

- We can use `process.env` to access the environment variables attached to a Node.js process.

- We can use `process.argv` to access the values passed into the application from the command line.

# Key takeaways

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned in this chapter:

- We can use the fs module for accessing, manipulating, and interacting with the file system. We can use the process object to access information about the current Node.js process and to interact with it. Both of these are built-in global Node.js modules.

- We can use `process.env` to access the environment variables attached to a Node.js process.

- We can use `process.argv` to access the values passed into the application from the command line.

Let's highlight the main contents of this chapter.

Node.js Overview

The Node.js API

JavaScript Essentials Review

Building a RESTful API with Express

Authentication with Passport.js and JSON Web Tokens

Build a Live Trivia Game with Socket.IO

Appendix

Conclusion

Wrap Up

Key takeaways